Housed in a spectacular inn over looking the southern Pacific coast of Nicaragua is an innovative new clinical program offering intensive couples and family therapy in the context of an extraordinary Central American vacation. Although only in its second year of operation this program has established a strong record in helping turn around struggling relationships.

Dr. Stewart, the program’s director, indicates that the experience of being away from the distractions and habits of home, immersed in a distinct culture and the extraordinary beauty of Nicaragua provides a different kind of platform from which to address relationship issues. The combination of a wonderful vacation and relatively intensive therapy (daily couples, family and individual sessions) provides unique treatment opportunities.

Areas of clinical focus include couples struggling with poor communication patterns, emotional distance, entrenched resentment, substance use, infidelity, sexual issues, general parenting issues, step parenting, management of adolescent children and parenting children with special needs (i.e. ADHD & Autistic Spectrum).

The program is capable of serving couples and families, as well as larger extended families (groups of 8 or more utilize an adjacent hotel for accommodations). The program may also be utilized for clinically supported family reunions. Please note that unlike many relationship retreats, clients involved in this program have no contact with others clients, group work outside of one’s family is not a part of this program.

This approach has been particularly effective in work with treatment-resistant individuals who have been drawn to the vacation aspect of the experience more than the therapy; allowing for relationship work to take place in a manner not possible in a more traditional therapy setting. The intensity of the work with its daily sessions often allows therapeutic gains difficult to establish in more traditional weekly sessions.

These therapy services may be provided as an adjunct to existing individual, couples or family therapy, or without involvement in prior therapy. When appropriate, Dr. Stewart will communicate with other treating clinicians both before and after participation in the program. The property used for this program is a former eco-luxury inn and offers exceptional accommodations with a fully open orientation to the ocean below.

In addition to clinical services clients are provided extensive travel and vacation support while in the program, as well as use of an all terrain vehicle to allow full access to this remarkable region. This region of Nicaragua offers wonderful vacation options including: spectacular beaches, many excellent beach front restaurants, exceptional surfing, sailing, horse back riding, canopy tours, yoga, Spanish lessons or simply sitting by the pool and enjoying the natural beauty.